Stephen Jones gives Scarlets succour in Magners League

Scarlets 29 Dragons 24

By Graham Clutton

9:06PM GMT 01 Jan 2009

After spending much of 2008 seeking to halt their unprecedented decline, the Scarlets kicked off the new year in better spirits with this scrappy, but much-needed Magners League victory over the Dragons at Parc y Scarlets.

Centre Regan King, whose recent dip in form has been symptomatic of the troubled times in west Wales, showed a wonderful turn of pace after seven minutes to give the men of Llanelli a try-scoring start. However, after Stephen Jones had converted and kicked a penalty, the Dragons continued their recent improvement when left wing Richard Fussell crossed for his second try in as many games.

The Scarlets' confidence was further damaged when Jamie Ringer broke left from a scrum inside their 22 and sent Fussell in again.

Shaun Connor's penalty on the stroke of half-time extended the Dragons' lead to seven points, but after the diminutive outside-half had wasted an opportunity to put them 10 points in front, Jones closed the gap for the Scarlets with a penalty, his side's first points in 40 minutes.

The Scarlets moved ahead on the hour when loosehead prop Phil John crossed at the posts for Jones to convert, and three more penalties from the Wales fly-half put them in the driving seat.

Connor converted his own late try for the Dragons to unsettle the locals, but the Scarlets held on to claim a welcome victory.